NATO: Why Should We Care?

[@MrSquigglies]

If: The safety of the US is basically the same with or without NATO, being NATO's single largest military and capable of standing on its own. And: The other members of NATO repeatedly and pointedly refused to fulfill their obligations in lieu of more social welfare etc. thereby breaking the treaty. Then: Why are we in this treaty to begin with? Why would we put ourselves in such a situation where if any of them are attacked? We are obligated to come to their defense when they do not value their own defense? It has been nearly 100 years since the last major war in Europe. They have the technology to defend themselves. They have all of the equipment designed but they have not anywhere near enough of it to meet their obligations.

[@GlobalPoliticswithJimMartin]

@@MrSquigglies Thanks for your comment. I’d disagree on your first point: economically speaking, the end of the alliance would cost us dearly and second, we’d be hard pressed to deter our enemies from afar. Second: the Russian war on Ukraine has woken most NATO countries up - everyone except Spain, Macedonia, and Italy had met or exceeded the 2% of GDP figure as of 2023 and 2024 this trend has continued. They get it now. As to your last points: I’d argue that NATO has been a major reason there’s not been a European war. The EU also plays a role, but that’s fading away. I completely agree with you on your last point: some of the power players (UK, Germany, and France…and Italy) need to do more. Poland is really pushing to grow their armed services; I think they are spending something like 4% of GDP on defense now.

[@Unknown-r2p2o]

It’s dangerous to leave nato we are in this treaty because Russia would steam roll Europe and being threat to USA you think Russia and China will stop in their own backyard

[@Unknown-r2p2o]

It will cost of influence and money we get more from nato than we give and without nato will leave Europe and America vulnerable nato did help USA during 9/11

[@SkyDrifters1]

These nine countries (out of 34) are not meeting their obligation. Canada Germany Belgium Croatia Italy Luxembourg Portugal Slovenia Spain

[@GlobalPoliticswithJimMartin]

@@SkyDrifters1 hmm - I saw a different set of figures (from the BBC, 2024 figures). They actually had Canada quite a bit higher than 2%; they also had Germany just exceeding the 2% figure. Of the rest, only Italy really has the size to matter much.

[@SkyDrifters1]

@GlobalPoliticswithJimMartin I used the paid version of Cbapt hpt for that. ( :

[@Unknown-r2p2o]

Russia got big and mean again imagine we didn’t have nato Russia would have its empire

[@GlobalPoliticswithJimMartin]

@@Unknown-r2p2o times have certainly changed. To me it’s shocking that nuclear war is no longer a non-zero probability- I grew up under that shadow. It’s quite scary.

[@Unknown-r2p2o]

@ of course but don’t retreat